The Joyful Learning Podcast

Visit Matt's website for more information: https://mattmcmann.com/

Melissa is in conversation with author Reem Faruqi. Reem is an award winning author who enjoys writing lyrical stories that reflect her own experiences. When Reem Faruqi taught second grade, her favorite time was “Read Aloud” time. Now, her favorite time at home is reading with her daughters. Reem Faruqi is the award-winning author of “Lailah’s Lunchbox,” a picture book based on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. Of Pakistani origin, Reem moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, when she was 13 years old. She’s also the author of three middle grade novels in verse, “Unsettled”, “Golden Girl” , “Call Me Adnan”, chapter book “Anisa’s International Day”, and picture books “Amira’s Picture Day”, “I Can Help,” “Milloo’s Mind,” “Swimming Toward a Dream,” many of which received starred reviews.  Reem seasonally works as a photographer at ReemFaruqi Photography and currently works as a Scheduler for the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta. She loves to doodle, write, and take photos at http://www.ReemFaruqi.com. Currently, she lives with her husband and three daughters in Atlanta.

Melissa is in conversation with award winning author Rajani LaRocca. Rajani was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. Learn more about Rajani and her books at www.RajaniLaRocca.com and Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She also co-hosts the STEM Women in KidLit Podcast.

Torrey Maldonado was born and raised in Brooklyn’s Red Hook projects. He has taught in New York City public schools for over 25 years and his fast-paced, compelling stories are inspired by his and his students’ experiences. His popular young readers novels include What Lane? (2020), which won many starred reviews and was cited by Oprah Daily and the NY Times for being essential to discuss racism and allyship; Tight (2018)  won the Christopher Award, was an ALA Notable Book, and an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year; and his first novel, Secret Saturdays, has stayed in print for over ten years. His newest book, Hands, published on January 24, 2023, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, won a starred School Library Journal review, and amazing reviews from Horn Book, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. Learn more at torreymaldonado.com or connect on social media @torreymaldonado.

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Episode Resources:

• Connect with podcast host, Melissa Thom: Twitter @MsThomBookitis ; Instagram @MsThomBookitis; Website https://www.melissathom.com
• Connect with podcast co-producer, Carrie Seiden: Twitter @LoveaLibrary 
• Connect with podcast guest, Torrey Maldonado; Twitter @TorreyMaldonado; Instagram @TorreyMaldonado; Website http://torreymaldonado.com 

Follow The Joyful Learning Pod (https://anchor.fm/joyfullearningmedia)

• Connect with podcast host, Melissa Thom Twitter @MsThomBookitis ; Instagram @MsThomBookitis; Website https://www.melissathom.com**
• Connect with podcast co-producer, Carrie Seiden Twitter @LoveaLibrary  **Connect with podcast guest, Jill Daley; YouTube: @jillybeanstudio; Twitter @JillPDailey; Instagram @jillybeanstudio; Website http://jdailey.com**Connect with podcast guest, Shannon McNeice; Twitter  @smcneice; Instagram @sedglibrary, @orangeowlthrift**

Resources--

Jilly Bean Studio https://www.youtube.com/@jillybeanstudio/ Creative journals, notebooks, printables and mixed media art** Look for #JunkJournalJanuary on Twitter and Instagram** @MegJournals **Joie De Fi YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@joiedefi/ **Shannon’s Video of her Little Golden Book Project https://youtu.be/JfjCNFOLSg0 **Book Resource: The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity  by Julia Cameron**Website to check out--What is a Junk Journal? Junk Journaling 101 for Beginners https://artjournalist.com ***Follow The Joyful Learning Pod (https://anchor.fm/joyfullearningmedia)

Melissa checks in with of her closest friends, fellow librarian and avid reader, Kymberlee Powe, about the work Kym is doing for Hear Our Voices (HOV), a unique company on a mission to "Nurture the Collective Heart of Voices of Color"  through the hosting of digital/virtual book tours across multiple platforms for marginalized authors and readers. The innovative work HOV is doing to build literary inclusivity is both important and super interesting. Other topics discussed: sewing, musical theater, growing up a military kid, and of course, books and reading!**Guest Bio: Kymberlee Powe is the Children and YA Consultant for the Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development. She is a national presenter and a leading voice in the area of Growing Equitable Library Services. In addition to her daytime job, Kym is also the part time Logistics and Finance Director at Hear Our Voices, an organization whose mission is to “Nurture the Collective Heart of Voices of Color”. Kym is a plant mom, library lover, podcast listener, and crochet newbie. You can often find Kym crocheting while watching Law and Order!**Connect with podcast host, Melissa Thom: https://twitter.com/MsThomBookitis *https://www.instagram.com/msthombookitis*https://www.melissathom.com**Connect with podcast co-producer, Carrie Seiden https://twitter.com/lovealibrary**Connect with podcast guest, Kym Powe: https://twitter.com/librarykym*https://www.instagram.com/librarykym *linktr.ee/LibraryKym**Resources Mentioned in Episode 6: Here Our Voices Digital Book Tour Company https://www.hearourvoices.me/*Luxbook Planners https://www.etsy.com/shop/Luxbook*Kym’s father’s efficiency-related saying: “Prior proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance!”**Books:The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander--NPR Book of the Day about the Door of No Return (7 Minute Listen) https://www.npr.org/2022/09/27/1125438027/the-door-of-no-return-is-a-story-for-children-about-slavery

Melissa Thom and special guest episode co-host Jennifer Halbur have the great honor of interviewing author Lisa McMann during the "Summer Book Party" promotional tour for Lisa's New York Times bestselling middle grade book The Map of Flames published by Penguin Random House.    Guest Bio: Lisa McMann lives in Tempe, Arizona. She is married to fellow writer, Matt McMann, and they have two adult children. Her son is artist Kilian McMann, and her daughter is actor Kennedy McMann. Lisa is the author of over two dozen books for young adults and children. Some of her most well-known books are The Unwanteds series for middle grade readers and the Wake trilogy for young adults. The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames was an instant New York Times bestseller in March 2022. It is the first book in Lisa's new middle grade fantasy series. It's about five supernatural kids who were born in a deserted hideout and abandoned by their criminal parents. They find a flaming map and enter civilization for the first time in search of treasure...and they hope to find their parents, too. But they soon discover that civilization is not kind to supernatural people like them. Book 2, The Invisible Spy, will be out November 8, 2022. Episode Resources: Connect with podcast host, Melissa Thom: @MsThomBookitis*http://melissathom.com** Connect with podcast co-producer, Carrie Seiden: @LoveALibrary  Connect with podcast guest, Lisa McMann: @Lisa_McMann* http://lisamcmann.com* Facebook Instagram Connect with podcast guest co-host, Jennifer Halbur: @HalburJennifer** Brookline Booksmith (https://www.brooklinebooksmith.com) * Longfellow Books (https://www.longfellowbooks.com/)* RJ Julia Booksellers (https://www.rjjulia.com/)* Turning the Page Books (https://www.turningthepagebooks.com/) * Independent Bookstore Day (https://www.bookweb.org/independent-bookstore-day)#Bookposse  #mgbookchat Book 1: Map of Flames Book 2: Invisible Spy

Jo Watson Hackl is the author of the bestselling novel, Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, published by Random House Children’s Books.  Smack Dab was awarded the Southern Book Prize and is an Amazon Teacher’s Pick.  Jo also is the founder of Outdoorosity.org, a free resource for information and inspiration about nature. Jo is a first-generation college graduate on a mission to help students connect with nature, build skills that promote grit, resiliency and SEL skills, and improve overall writing, and she loves to do school visits. In collaboration with experienced educators, she and her team have developed a bounty of free resources for educators and other readers, available at www.johackl.com, and Outdoorosity.org.  

Episode Resources:

• About Jo’s book  Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe published by Penguin Random House
• The Joy Report Podcast: Nature is for Everyone: Equity in the Outdoors  "The Joy Report" is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality, optimism, and joy with host Arielle King (@ariellevking), an environmental justice advocate.
• Commitment to Create More Equitable Access to Parks & Nature

Books Mentioned:

• George, Jean Craighead. (1959). My side of the mountain.
• Konigsburg, E. L. (1967). From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
• Lloyd, N. (2022). Hummingbird. Scholastic Press.
• Mapp, R. (2022). Nature swagger: Stories and visions of black joy in the outdoors. Chronicle.

Connect with Melissa Thom: Twitter  Instagram  Website 

Connect with Jo Watson Hackl: Twitter Facebook Web  

Connect with Carrie Seiden: Twitter

Nationally recognized and award-winning Teacher Librarian, speaker, and host of the Joyful Learning Podcast, Melissa Thom chats with Barbara Johnson, a influential school library media specialist, Maker, wife and mother of four—with a long list of interesting hobbies and diverse paying side jobs—about collecting, curating and sharing ideas in a digital world, building diverse school library collections, and preparing for and responding to book challenges. Don’t miss this great conversation!

Barbara’s Bio: Barbara is a former Director of Technology & Technology Integration Specialist, and earned her MLIS in 2014. She is passionate about bringing innovative technology to my school learning community. Barbara organized the MakerMeetup for Maker Librarians to play, hack, and discuss library issues. In 2018 the MakerMeetup was the Connecticut Association of School Librarians’ (CASL) Pre-Conference and had over 130 attendees. She also initiated Colchester’s Annual Digital Learning Day, a community-wide event that allows students to become the teachers in an "edCamp" style evening. Last spring, 75 students facilitated 25 activities for over 600 participants.

Barbara continuously advocates for school libraries as the Past President of CASL and a member of both the State of Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology and Digital/Media Literacy Advisory Council. She is the AASL Affiliate Representative for Connecticut and has presented at the last three AASL Conferences on innovative teaching practices and school libraries.

List of resources, suggested materials, affiliated links, and social media:

• Connect w/ Barbara: Twitter Facebook
• Connect w/ Kristina Holzweiss: Twitter Facebook
• Connect w/ Melissa: Twitter
• Connect w/ Carrie: Twitter

Resources

Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors article by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop

Office for Intellectual Freedom 

Barbara’s Johnson’s interview with Connecticut Public Radio/WNPR regarding book challenges, “Connecticut Librarians Brace for ‘Tsunami of Book Challenges”

Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists 

Book Recommendations

For Middle Grade Readers:

Ban this Book: A Novel by Alan Gratz

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King

For Young Adult Readers:

Suggested Reading by Dave Connis

Nationally recognized and award-winning, Teacher Librarian, speaker, and host of the Joyful Learning Podcast, Melissa Thom shares an overview of the brand new Joyful Learning podcast. Topics of this inaugural episode include information about the guests and interviews featured in Season One, and an invitation to take part in the Joyful Learning Pod online community .

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Link to show notes: http://bit.ly/JLPshownotes

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Melissa’s Bio and Social Media

Melissa Thom, MA, (she/her) is a teacher librarian at Bristow Middle School in West Hartford, CT. She earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, a master’s in elementary education from Northern Arizona University and a master’s in educational psychology/gifted and talented from the University of Connecticut. She spent 12 years teaching grades four to six as a classroom teacher, and seven years ago she earned her library media specialist certification from the ARCLMS program. She is the President of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL), a member of the Teacher Advisory Board for Bookelicious, and was a 2019 AASL Social Media Superstar Reader Leader finalist. She has been honored by CASL for the Follett Creativity Award in 2018  and the Carlton W.H. Erickson Award in 2020. She was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Professional Award by the UCONN NEAG Alumni Board, and most recently was named  a library journal mover and shaker. Her publications include an article in the School library journal about Makerspace and NGSS also know as the  (next generation science standards), as well as an article in the October 2019 issue of School Library Connection entitled, Create a Culture of Reading. In addition, she has hosted multiple webinars for School Librarian Connection and EdWeb on topics such as Developing Inclusive Collections, Making the Most of Your Digital Collection, and Building a Culture of Reading.

*Follow Melissa on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MsThomBookitis) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/msthombookitis)*

*Follow Carrie on Twitter (https://twitter.com/lovealibrary)

Book Recommendations

Downs, A. F. (2022). Chase the fun: 100 days to discover fun right where you

      are. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Meinzer, K. (2019). So You Want to Start a Podcast: Finding Your Voice, Telling

     Your Story, and Building a Community That Will Listen. HarperCollins.

Follow the Joyful Learning Podcast on Twitter (https://twitter.com/joyfullearnpod) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/joyfullearningpod/)